A book A day

The Sea of Tranquility by Mark Haddon and Christian Birmingham

I am sure that many readers of this blog are aware of the author and illustrator of this book. I featured Christian Birmingham earlier in this blog. I am such a fan of his pastel artwork and hope that others have caught up with his work.

Many of you will know Mark Haddon from the book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time which won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award in 2003 and gave the author a new found fame after several years as an author. His website is here.

I chose this book because it is such a beautiful and hopeful book which recreates the sense of wonder felt across the world in 1969 when the American astronauts landed on the moon. Haddon tells through the story from a child's eye view of a a little boy who dreamed of flying to the moon and then actually landing on it and walking across the Sea of Tranquility.
The boy found out as much as he could about the moon and stares out of his window studying it using his father's binoculaurs until one night he watches the moon landings for real on the television!

The book was released in 1996 but has been re-released with a new front cover more recently. I would recommend this book for all ages due to the beauty of the images and the level of discussion that can come from the way in which the topic is covered.

Earlier this year I was at a conference when someone said that Mark Haddon was also there and pointed him out. I was really keen to meet him as I have read many of his books and think that he is one of the most talented of the current crop of British authors. Unfortunately when I did get to meet him it was unfortunately in the gentleman's toilets and so I felt that I couldn't tell him how brilliant I think he is!!!!

Ally's World by Karen McCombie (The Past, the Present and the Loud, Loud Girl; Dates, Double Dates and Big, Big Trouble; Butterflies, Bullies and Bad, Bad Habits)
(This review is for the series of books)

This series of books are BRILLIANT! I love them! I think you deserve to have the blurb and some extracts!!!

My family is weird.I know everyone says that, but we are definately weird.My eldest sister sister is 17 going on 70,my other sister is away with the fairies (literally - her room is a shrine to whoever invented fairy lights) and my little brother is a space cadet who's obsessed with Rolf Harris.Me?Somehow I ended up normal,but it's a struggle,let me tell you...and I will tell you - soon as I get this vibrateing three-legged cat off my head...

See what I mean? If not surely this will make you want to read at least the first book...

A word of warning: never, ever try to cut your fringe when your in a bad mood.

I gazed at my reflection in the toilets mirrors while a bunch of girls who were in the year below me charged about screaming and giggling about something or other in the background.

Hopefully, it wasn't it wasn't my hair , but I couldn't have blamed them if it was. One single, solitary chunk of fringe was cut so high that a big,shiny patch of forehead positively gleamed at me in the mirror. My fringe would've looked better if I'd just let Tor's hamsters gnaw on it for a while...

Look at a map of the world,and find britain(small, jaggedy, sort of in the middle).
Look at a map of Britain and find London (big blob down in the south).
Look at a map of London and find Crouch End (weird name, nice place).
Look for Palace Heights Road (number 28, to be precise).

When you find number 28, stand on the pavement opposite and look at the terraced house with your eyes half-crossed  (all fuzzy like that, it seems almost as posh as the ones on either side of it. Uncross your eyes and you'll see that it's actually pretty tatty round the edges).
I'm Ally Love, and this is where I live with my dad (Martin), a power-mad control freak (my seventeen-year-old sister, Linn), a complete airhead (my fifteen-year-old sister Rowan) and a space cadet (my seven-year-old brother, Tor)....

I love these books because if you flick to a random page you will almost definately find something funny or awkward in a funny way. The main character is  Ally Love who finds it hard to have a normal life with a weird family and freaky friends. This 13 year old girl has a wacky best friend called Billy who has an outragously annoying pampered poodle called Precious, you'd think it would a perfect, she-dog who was silent most of the time, but no, this was possibly the most irrataing dog in the universe!

I would recommend these faboulously good books for fluent 10-13 year old possibly very fluent 9 year olds they are AMAZING!!

This review was done by my daughter.

As a grown up reviewer I think that these books fall into the category of popular texts which will be devoured by a wide range of readers but will not necessarily be remembered in ten years' time.

The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett (and a lot of Rabbits!)

I decided to go for a book which is absolutely magical to restart the book reviews. Those who have read this will know that I love picture books which require the reader to work and provide layers which can be explored. This book certainly fits into that category and is very much in the style of all Emily Gravett books in providing the reader with a surprise.

Emily Gravett first came to notice with her wonderful book, Wolves, which was published in 2005. She is based in Brighton where she studied illustration and where she now lives with her two pet rats! Her website is here.

The Rabbit Problem combines a story, great illustration and the work of a13th Century Mathematician! The book seeks to explain what happens when Lonely Rabbit of Fibonacci's Field seeks out someone to join them in the field. When Chalk arrives and the two rabbits snuggle up together nature takes it course and soon by March there are five pairs and by May there are five pairs, by July 13 pairs and by October there are 55!!! This is, of course, a very innovative way of introducing and explaining the Fibonacci theory which is explained here.

The book takes on further journeys accompanied by a baby rabbit record book and a carrot recipe book with the most fantastic ending which will delight all readers of all ages! It is a brilliant piece of pop up but I won't spoil the book for you.

I am sorry that I haven't been posting for a while - I changed jobs last month and so have been somewhat distracted.

Anyway we are back to business with a new review today. I shall try to keep up to date as much as I can with reviews of great books.

Again, if anyone would like to submit reviews please do not hesitate in contacting me.

Short! by Kevin Crossley-Holland

This book is a collection of stories all of which are less than two pages long and written by Kevin Crossley-Holland who is an award winning author and someone who has written some wonderful versions of myths and legends including Beowulf, produced powerful poetry and created some magical books such as The Seeing Stone.

This is the shortest story I know -

Talk about Short
He was alone, and in the dark; and when he reached out for the matches, the matches were put into his hand.

This book is full of stories which are about ghosts, supermarkets, animals, adventures, and also sorts of strange things written in an incredibly engaging way by Crossley-Holland who brings his skills as a storyteller to print. His stories need to be read out and some children will love learning them by heart to recite. Not all of the stories are spooky but they all contain something which will make the reader think (and at times even gasp!)

This one is just a little silly!!!
What's Wunce?
"Once," began the teacher.
"What's wunce?" asked the little girl.
"Once," repeated the teacher.
"Can you eat it?"
"Listen!" said the teacher. "Once upon...'
"What's a pon?" asked the little girl.
"Upon," repeated the teacher.
"Can you play with it?"
"Listen!" said the teacher."Once upon...a time."
"A-time," said the little girl. "B-time. C-time. Words are so strange"

This book is one which you will visit again and again because I know you will love it as much as I do!!!!

Coraline by Neil Gaiman and David McKean

Those who have read this blog since day one will know that the opening choice for A Book A Day was The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. His writing is so beautifully crafted with incredible characters and far fetched events which he weaves together with such skill. I genuinely believe that Neil Gaiman is one of the finest writers for children of the current generation. He has written a forthcoming episode of Doctor Who. His website is well worth checking out especially if you are a young reader and make sure that you keep re-visiting it. It's here.

Coraline moved into a new house with her parents and discovered that the house contained some incredibly strange neighbours but not as strange as she discovered when she managed to unlock a strange small door which opens up onto.... a blank brick wall. However, at night she retries the door to find that this time it reveals a tunnel through to another house which seems incredibly familiar.

It is familiar because the wallpaper is the same, the carpets are the same and even the pictures are the same and her parents are there but they have buttons for eyes. These more idealised parents unfortunately then reveal a more sinister side being possessive and towards the end a darker side to them is revealed.

The book is odd, spooky and, at times, a little scary but children should be exposed to books which are not all sweetness and light - the popularity of Roald Dahl, Philip Pullman and Jacqueline Wilson show that children can not only deal with tough subject matters but they love it.

Another wonderful book.

The book was transferred to the screen in this wonderful animation which took 3 years to make by a team of animators led by Henry Selick who directed James and the Giant Peach. You should be aware that the film does play to the darker elements of the book beautifully and some younger children may find it an uncomfortable watch.

The Greatest Skating Race by Louise Borden and Niki Daly

Louise Borden is a writer from Ohio, USA and someone whose books based upon real events are ones I love to read to children. She also has written several non-fiction biographies including one of Abraham Lincoln. My personal favourites alongside this book are all to do with the Second World War (The Little Ships and Across the Blue Pacific). Her website is certainly well worth a visit.

This book beautifully combines real life events with fictional happenings which are possible making this book one which will give children a real sense of life in Holland during the Second World War. I personally love the fact that this book is inspirational concentrating on what people can achieve when really tested.

The premise of the book is that ten year old Piet is crazy about skating on the frozen canals of the town, Sluis, where he lives. Louise Borden ties the story around the real life 125 mile race called the Elfstedentocht, between eleven towns which has been held since 1909 but only when the weather is sufficiently cold to freeze all of the canals. The story is told in the first person from the point of view of Piet and he explains how Pim Mulier invnented the Elfstedentocht and how he wants to be like him. Borden uses some very strong dialogue to create a sense of the characters and the sense of fear for everyday citizens caused by the occupation by foreign troops

One cold night in late January German soldiers came and arrested Johanna's father, a very brave man. The Germans had learned that he owned a radio and had sent message to England. This, of course, was forbidden. The rest of his family was very afraid. Mrs. Winkelman decided to send Johanna and her brother, Joop, to their Belgian aunt who lived in Brugge. Maybe there the Winkelman children would be safer. At least for the winter. But how to get a Dutch girl and boy to Brugge without any German soldier taking notice?

And there wasn't much time to make a plan. The danger of staying was greater than the danger of going.

At this point the story joins brilliantly with the knowledge that the reader has built up of young Piet. His grandfather took him on one side and told him "Today you must be the best skater that you can be. You must be as brave as your father...wherever he is, You must be as brave as Pim Mulier!"

Piet took the two young children on the most important skating race of their lives. The book is written in an easily accessible way for confident readers of 9+ with great illustrations by Niki Daly.

Although this has an uncomfortable subject matter this book is inspirational.

Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? by John Kelly and Cathy Ticknell

Ok here's the plot! Horace and Glenda Pork-Fowler are a husband and wife (a pig and a goose) who get a one in a lifetime invitation from their neighbour Dr Hunter, who lives at Eatem Hall, offering them everything they can eat for the whole weekend. The book works on several levels as the reader is let in on the secret that Horace simply ignores as his hunger gets the better of him!

The pair are greeted by a letter in the empty Eatem Hall which reads:
My Dear Guests,

Welcome to my home, Eatem Hall. Due to pressures of business, I am unable to join you tonight, but I have designed this house to offer a fully-automated dining experience. Your every dietary whim can be satisfied by the push of a button or the flick of a switch. I am delighted to offer you the chance to play a part in the finest dining experience in culinary history, and I will meat you personally in the bandstand on SUnday morning for a final, mouthwatering surprise. An opportunity such as this can only occur once in any lifetime. So, until then - eat, drink and be merry!
Your very special fiend,
Dr A Hunter F.R.S.W.

Horace's response is "Seems like  splendid chap, after all, even if he can't spell for toffee."

Personally I would read the story before allowing children to see any of the images inside the book as the text tells a completely different tale. As the children read through the book the pictures will give them strong clues as to what Dr Hunter truly intends to happen to our main characters.

This book is beautifully crafted with a hilarious ending which neither the reader nor the naughty wolf, Dr Hunter, would ever expect!!! I love the fact that Horace and Glenda remain in glorious ignorance of what is happening all of the way through the book and so the joke is on them as much as the baddie.

I would recommend this as a reader at home for a child over the age of four but this book also delights children of an older age and I have known teachers use it very successfully with Upper Junior age children in several schools.

Another great book!!!

Clown by Luk Depondt and Guido Van Genechten

I have chosen a glorious book for today's choice which is translated . It asks a simple question  "What would you d if you were a clown?" The book which is suitable for young readers then take the child through pages full of riotous colour with examples of what the clown could do.

Any child reading will love adding sound effects to the reading of the story

There is little more to say than this is a great book for early readers and a must for bedtime stories (although may need a quieter book afterwards!!!!!)

You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum! by Andy Stanton

Andy Stanton is  multi-talented man who has created a wonderful series of books about the hideous Mr Gum. The books are in the tradition of Roald Dahl tradition of portraying adults as grotesque caricatures much aided by the Quentin Blake style of illustrator David Tazzyman. Please do not think that I am dismissing these as cheap copies of previous favourites as Stanton has very much made his own style and has a distinctive sense of humour within the book.

I love the conversational tone which lets the reader in on the secrets of the texts and grabs them straightaway. The opening to the book demonstrates this beautifully!
Mr Gum was a fierce old man with a red beard and two bloodshot eyes that stared out at you like an octopus curled up in a bad cave. He was a complete horror who hated children, animals, fun and corn on the cob. What he liked was snoozing in bed all day, being lonely and scowling at things. At first the only person who appears to stand up to Mr Gum in the town of Lamonic Bibber is an angry fairy who keeps hitting him with a frying pan if he doesn't keep the garden as beautiful as his house is disgusting.

The heroine of this story is Jammy Grammy Lammy F'Huppa F'Huppa Berlin Stereo Eo Eo Lebb C'Yepp Nermonica Le Straypek De Grespin De Crespin De Spespin De Vespin De Whoop De Loop De Brunkle Merry Christmas Lenoir but luckily all of her friends call her Polly!!!

The other inhabitants of the village have names like Jonathan Ripples, the fattest man in the village; a little girl called Peter; Martin Launderette who ran the launderette and a nasty butcher called Billy William the Third (because he claimed he was third in line for the throne of Eng - er - land)

A great set of characters who take the reader through simply bonkers events. This is the first in a series of 9 books. They would be great for a reader of 7+ who wants to become more independent in their reading. It is also a great read aloud to engage a class.

Here is a brilliant description of what you will find when you meet Mr Gum from the author himself.